by Karen Jones

Created on: December 15, 2008   Last Updated: December 16, 2008

There is nothing more gratifying than wrapping the presents that you have carefully selected for family or friends and placing them under the Christmas tree. Even empty boxes can appear enticing when adorned with colourful shiny paper, enough to capture the excitement of any member of the family. Wrapping the gifts can take many (often happy) hours, yet your efforts at precision packing will undoubtedly be in tatters within seconds of distributing the presents, unless you have trained the family to open them slowly and delicately, that is.

For many years as a child I recall seeing the same patterned wrapping paper on the presents that I received, it was obvious that my parents had recycled it. I would be advised to very carefully peel back the taped edges and place the folded paper onto a pile in the centre of the room; I thought nothing of it - this is what I had always done. Later in life I realised that my parents were frugal with money simply because we didn't have much to spare. It became a way of life for us - I thought that everyone did the same. To this day we often carefully remove and store any undamaged good-quality Christmas wrapping paper for re-use at a later date. The cost of one roll of premium wrapping paper can be as expensive as a small gift for a child or other visiting guest; money well-saved.

My Christmas shopping for the coming year usually starts immediately after the Christmas that has just been celebrated. I purchase Christmas wrapping paper and cards during the sale period, the perfect time to grab a bargain. Most stores will display unsold stock at between 30% and 50% of the original prices - you'd be daft not to take advantage of these offers.

Another way to reduce the cost of wrapping those precious gifts is to involve your children in a Christmas arts and craft activity. Get them to decorate plain white paper with paints, crayons, glitter or by sponge-printing. Each design will be unique and precious. The children (and probably the supervising adult too) will have immense fun, and might even be keen to help you wrap a few presents with their art-work at a later stage.

If you are keen to avoid spending out on any surplus paper, then why not decorate a few empty shoe boxes with a high quality paper, and use these special gift boxes each year for your family and visitors. There will be one year when you spend out on paper - the rest will be free.

Whatever your budget, whatever your traditions, have yourselves a wonderful Christmas!

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